Patent GB-402517-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of galvanic cells
IPC: H01M6/08
Filed: 1932-07-04
Abstract: 402,517. Batteries. ANKER, L., and ANKER, C., (trading as ANKER MASCHINENFABRIK, L.), 55, Humboldt Strasse, Germany. July 4, 1932, No. 18921. Convention date, July 2, 1931. [Class 53.] A machine automatically fills the containers of dry batteries with electrolyte, then inserts the dollies with insulation between them and the containers, and finally subjects the batteries to a cooking operation. The containers may first be tested visually in a drum 3 which revolves in an outer stationary drum 2 having a glass bottom 1 behind which is a lamp as shown in Figs., 2 and 3. Faulty containers are removed by hand, the remaining containers passing into compartments 4 formed round the periphery of the drum 3. Rotation of the drum brings the containers in the compartments over apertures in a stationary support 7 into which they fall. These apertures are periodically opened and closed by a slide 8. When the slide is opened the containers fall into grooves 9 in the support 7 and when the slide is closed it pushes the containers into a holding device 10 on a band conveyer 11 which carries them to the electrolyte filling device. The electrolyte filling device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 comprises a group of preparatory measuring chambers 13 and a group of chambers 14 in which the quantity of electrolyte for each cell is accurately adjusted. The chambers 13 are formed in a slide 15 and are filled when they register with apertures in an upper slide 16 which is hollow and to which electrolyte is admitted. Further movement of the slide then brings apertures in the bottom of the chambers 13 over corresponding apertures in a lower slide 18 and electrolyte flows into the chambers 14 which are closed at the bottom by valves 23 controlled by the machine. The quantity of electrolyte which flows into each chamber 14 is regulated by a nut 24 which forms the upper margin of the chamber. The height of the nut determines the volume of the chamber. Excess electrolyte overflows into a trough from which it can be recovered. The valves 23 open when the containers are below them, and the filled containers are then carried to the devices for inserting the carbon dollies and the insulation which separates them from the containers. The dolly and insulation inserting means are shown in Fig. 9 and comprise a horizontal wheel 27 having holes 26 into which the dollies are placed over pieces of insulating material, the wheel being situated above the band 11. When the dollies in the wheel arrive over the containers on the band 11 rams 29 press the dollies and insulating pieces down through passages 30 until they reach sleeves 31 where they are retained by a locking pin 32 which is carried by a lever 35 which abuts against a fixed stop 36. The sleeves 31 are movable downwards and their descent causes the lever 35 to withdraw the pin 32 and allow the insulated dollies to drop into the containers. The device for making the insulating pieces for the dollies and supplying them to the wheel 27 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, which is intended for insulating pieces made from strip material. Two magazines 37 are provided from each of which a piece of material is led to the wheel 27, the two strips being at right angles to one another. By means of an intermittent drive each strip is pushed to a cutting support 40 where it is held by points 41 which descend with the cutting knife 42. The pieces cut out may be of cross shape and they fall into a groove 43 in a slide 38 which carries them above a hole in the wheel 27. In this position a ram 44 descends and pushes the cut-out pieces through apertures in the slides and into the hole in the wheel. The insulation for the dollies may alternatively consist of two threads placed at right angles. These are carried through a bath of melted paraffin before passing to the cutters. The batteries with the insulated dollies are now cooked. The cooking device may consist of an oven or a bath. If an oven is used the batteries are led through the oven while still on the first band 11. When a bath is employed spring grippers 48 pivoted to a band 49 as shown in Figs. 10 and 13 receive the batteries which are pushed from the band 11 by rams R and convey them to the cooking trough 50 into which they are plunged by the sinking of the band at this point. They are then carried to a cooling trough 56 and finally removed from the grippers by means of tubes 57.